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Gogebic Taconite to delay iron ore mine request

Associated Press
10:17 p.m. CDT August 26, 2014

Tyler Forks River flows along the eastern border of the land where Gogebic Taconite wants to store mining wastes and empties downstream into the Bad River and Copper Falls State Park.(Photo: Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism)

MILWAUKEE — Gogebic Taconite says its application to develop an iron ore mine in northwestern Wisconsin will be pushed back until at least the fall of next year.

Gogebic had planned to submit an application in the spring of 2015 to develop a $1.5 billion iron ore mine in the Lake Superior region.

But a company spokesman tells the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Gogebic won't finish all fieldwork this year and will be forced to conduct additional environmental work next year.

The approaching fall up north is prompting Gogebic to wrap up some fieldwork already.

The inability to get all of the work done means additional work before the company submits an environmental impact report and formally asks for permission to construct the mine in Ashland and Iron counties.